Cartridge

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cartridge ( 14 ) which can be used in an anti-tank rocket launcher ( 10 ), comprising launching tubes ( 16 ) open at both ends, wherein a projectile ( 18 ) and a propelling charge cartridge ( 20 ) are arranged. To ignite the propelling charge, a non-electric igniting line ( 56 ) which is joined to the propelling charge cartridge ( 20 ) is used, said line exiting from the launching tube ( 16 ) at one end thereof The invention avoids direct ignition of the propelling charge, from an outer radial direction and dispenses with the use of the radial openings therefor in the launching tube ( 16 ). The launching tube can also be made from non-metal and mechanically weaker material, thereby considerably reducing the total weight of the cartridge ( 14 ) in a considerable manner.

[0001] The invention relates to a cartridge with a launching tube which is open on both sides and in which a projectile and a propelling charge cartridge are arranged.

[0002] Cartridges with a launching tube open on both sides are used in recoilless tube weapons, for example in so-called nozzle guns and anti-tank rocket launchers. In the case of the anti-tank rocket launcher, the projectile momentum is counterbalanced by a counterweight exiting from the launching tube rearwards in the opposite direction to the projectile. The propelling charge cartridge is seated in the launching tube between the projectile and the counterweight. In the case of known cartridges of anti-tank rocket launchers, the launching tube has, in the region of the propelling charge cartridge, radial ignition bores in which there are seated igniters which ignite the propelling charge in the propelling charge cartridge directly from outside in a radial manner. The launching tube is mechanically weakened by the ignition bores, so that it is not possible to use lighter and weaker materials for the launching tube, for example plastic tubes reinforced by aramid fibres.

[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the igniting apparatus of a recoilless cartridge.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0005] The cartridge according to the invention has a non-electric igniting line which is connected to the propelling charge cartridge and by which the propelling charge can be ignited. The igniting line is axially fastened to the propelling charge cartridge and is led out of the launching tube at one axial end of the launching tube. After the cartridge has been placed in a firing mechanism, the free end of the igniting line is connected to a release device of the firing mechanism. The supply of an igniting pulse to the propelling charge cartridge is therefore no longer effected by the shortest route from the outside in a radial manner directly into the propelling charge cartridge, but via an indirect route through one of the two long-side openings in the launching tube.

[0006] By using the igniting line, direct radial ignition of the propelling charge through the wall of the launching tube can be dispensed with. The launching tube can therefore be free from radial openings and is no longer weakened specifically in the region of the propelling charge cartridge, particularly at high explosive forces.

[0007] The non-electric design of the igniting line precludes undesired electrically induced igniting pulses, which the use of electric supply lines is unable to preclude, and therefore affords a high degree of interference immunity. The igniting line can be led out of the rear opening, facing away from the projectile, of the launching tube.

[0008] According to a preferred refinement, the igniting line is a pyrotechnic igniting line. The igniting line may be designed as an internally hollow igniting transmission tube, the inside of which has a coating of a mild explosive. After ignition of a percussion cap and the like at the free end of the igniting transmission tube, the explosive on the inside of the igniting transmission tube is ignited, whereupon a shock wave travels through the igniting transmission tube at high velocity. Even with relatively long tubes, the time which it takes for the shock wave to travel through the igniting transmission tube is so short that the delay between the ignition of the igniting transmission tube and the ignition of the propelling charge is sufficiently short. The design of the igniting line as an igniting transmission tube coated with explosive provides short ignition times and a high degree of interference immunity, reliability and durability.

[0009] According to a preferred refinement, a booster for igniting the propelling charge is arranged in the axial centre of the propelling charge cartridge, the igniting line opening axially into the booster. The booster contains a booster charge which increases the weak igniting pulse from the igniting line to such an extent that the propelling charge can be ignited directly or with interposition of an additional charge. Only the use of a booster enables an igniting transmission tube coated with explosive to be used as the igniting line.

[0010] The booster preferably has an explosive booster charge in a restraining cylindrical booster case, the booster case having radial openings in the region of the booster charge. The booster charge is thus restrained by the booster case in such a way that the combustion gases and particles escape from the cylindrical booster case exclusively in a radial direction. The imparting of an axial impulse to the booster is thereby avoided, so that the booster is on no account driven in an axially rearward direction out of the launching tube, where it would constitute a dangerous projectile. In the case of anti-tank rocket launchers, a safe distance of forty metres behind the tube is thereby ensured. The hot gases and particles escaping radially outwards from the booster case pass, by the shortest radial route, to the additional charge or to the propelling charge of the propelling charge cartridge, thus guaranteeing ignition of the propelling charge with little delay.

[0011] The booster is preferably firmly connected to the projectile-side end of the propelling charge cartridge. After the ignition of the propelling charge, the projectile-side end of the propelling charge cartridge is expelled axially forwards from the launching tube, while speeding along behind the projectile. Owing to the fact that the booster is connected to the projectile-side of the cartridge, the booster is likewise carried along in an axially forward direction and expelled from the front of the launching tube. This ensures that the booster is on no account expelled from the rear of the launching tube, so that the safe distance behind the tube cannot be affected thereby.

[0012] The launching tube is preferably free from radial openings. The design of the launching tube in a manner free from radial openings enables the use of light, non-metallic materials for the launching tube, for example plastic tubes reinforced by aramid fibres, and the like.

[0013] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 shows an anti-tank rocket launcher with a cartridge and a firing mechanism from the side,

[0015]FIG. 2 shows a propelling charge cartridge with booster of the cartridge of FIG. 1, and

[0016]FIG. 3 shows the booster of FIG. 2 in longitudinal section.

[0017] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an anti-tank rocket launcher 10, as used for combating armoured vehicles. The anti-tank rocket launcher 10 comprises a firing mechanism 12, to which an interchangeable cartridge 14 is fastened. The cartridge 14 substantially comprises a launching tube 16 which is open at both long sides and in which a projectile 18, a propelling charge cartridge 20 and a counterweight 22 are arranged approximately at the centre and one behind the other. The projectile 18 is a conventional projectile for combating armoured vehicles. The counterweight 22 consists of compressed iron powder.

[0018] The firing mechanism 12 has retaining elements for retaining and fixing the interchangeable cartridge 14. Furthermore, the firing mechanism 12 has a carrying handle 24, a rear hand grip 26 and a front hand grip 28. Arranged in the region of the front hand grip 28 is a trigger 30 with a trigger lever 32. The trigger lever 32 actuates a trigger linkage (not illustrated) which, in a release mechanism 34, sets off a striking movement of a striking pin.

[0019] The propelling charge cartridge 20, illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, has a cartridge case 38 with an annular-disc-shaped front wall 40 on the side of the projectile, a corresponding rear wall 42 and a cylindrical outer circumferential wall 44. All the walls 40-44 consist of paper or cardboard. Arranged inside the cartridge case 38, in each case annularly, are a front propelling charge 46, a rear propelling charge 48 and, separating the two propelling charges 46, 48 from each other, an additional charge 50 composed of an igniting mixture. An approximately cylindrical hollow space 52, into which a booster 54 is inserted, is provided continuously in the longitudinal direction, in the axial centre of the cylindrical propelling charge cartridge 20.

[0020] The booster 54 contains an explosive booster charge 58 which is arranged, axially, approximately at the level of the additional charge 50. The booster 54 has a cylindrical booster case 60, the front side of which is closed. The booster case 60 consists of aluminium. The front third of the booster case 60 is filled with an inert filling plug 62. The filling plug 62 consists of polyethylene, but may also consist of aluminium. In versions of the igniter which are of shorter design, the front filling plug is dispensed with. The middle third of the booster 54 is filled with the booster charge 58, while the rear third of the booster case forms a receptacle for an igniting line 56 and contains a transmitting charge 64 between the end of the igniting line and the booster charge 58. The igniting line 56 is anchored to the booster case 60 by a constriction 66 produced by crimping. The booster-side end piece of the igniting line 56 is surrounded by a cylindrical sealing element 68 made of plastic.

[0021] In the region of the additional charge 50, the booster case 60 has a multiplicity of radial openings 70, through which the reaction products of the ignited booster charge 58 can escape radially outwards, in order to ignite the additional charge 50. The front end of the booster case 60 is adhesively bonded in a fastening bush 61 which, for its part, is adhesively bonded to the front wall 40 of the cartridge case 38.

[0022] The booster 54 is connected to the release mechanism 34 outside the cartridge 14 by a non-electric igniting line 56 designed as an igniting transmission tube 57. The igniting line 56 is a hollow igniting transmission tube 57, the inside of which has a vapour-deposited coating of a mild explosive. The igniting line 56 is about 1 cm long and is led out of the launching tube 16 through the rear opening 17, and from there is run forwards to the release mechanism 34.

[0023] Arranged in the region of the release mechanism 34 is a percussion cap 72 which is mechanically ignited by being struck by the released striking pin and thereby sets off the shock wave in the igniting transmission tube 57.

[0024] The launching of the projectile 18 is effected by a chain of igniting processes: firstly, by pulling the trigger lever 32 of the trigger 30 a striking pin in the release mechanism 34 is released, so that the striking pin strikes the percussion cap 72 at high velocity and thereby ignites the percussion cap 72. Through the ignition of the percussion cap, the coating of explosive in the igniting transmission tube 57 is ignited, with the result that a shock wave travels at high velocity through the igniting line 56 from the mechanism 34 to be released, in the direction of the booster 54. The shock wave on its own is, however, not sufficient to ignite the booster charge, the additional charge 50 or the propelling charge 46, 48 directly with great reliability. The shock wave entering the booster 54 therefore firstly ignites the transmitting charge 64 which, for its part, ignites the actual booster charge 58. Since the booster case 60 has good restraining properties, after ignition of the booster charge 58 the reaction products, i.e. hot particles and hot gases, are expelled substantially radially outwards through the radial openings 70.

[0025] Owing to the fact that the reaction products escape in an exclusively radial direction, the additional charge 50 is ignited and on no account is a radial impulse imparted to the booster case 60, so that the booster case 60 remains in the propelling charge cartridge 20 by way of the fastening bush 61. The escaping reaction products of the additional charge 50 which is now igniting bring about the ignition of the front and rear propelling charge 46, 48, which cause a powerful explosion. The explosion drives the counterweight 22 backwards and the projectile 18 forwards out of the launching tube 16. The cardboard cartridge case 38 is destroyed in this process, the front wall 40 of the cartridge being driven forwards out of the launching tube 16, always following the projectile 18. The front wall 40 takes along with it the booster 54 adhesively bonded to it by way of the fastening bush 61 and thereby draws the booster 54 forwards out of the launching tube 16. This ensures that the booster 54 cannot exit from the launching tube 16 rearwards, where it would constitute a dangerous projectile. A safe distance of 40 metres behind the tube is ensured by this measure.

[0026] The ignition delay times of the described ignition by way of the non-electric igniting line 56 are uniform and sufficiently short. The subsequent internal-ballistic parameters are also satisfactory, as experiments have shown. 

1. Cartridge with a launching tube (16) which is open on both sides and in which a projectile (18) and a propelling charge cartridge (20) containing a propelling charge (46, 48) are arranged, characterised in that a non-electric igniting line (56), connected to the propelling charge cartridge (20), for igniting the propelling charge (46, 48) is provided, and in that the igniting line (56) is led out of the launching tube (16) at one end of the launching tube (16).
 2. Cartridge according to claim 1, characterised in that the igniting line (56) is a pyrotechnic igniting line.
 3. Cartridge according to claim 2, characterised in that the igniting line (56) is an igniting transmission tube (57), the inside of which has a coating of explosive.
 4. Cartridge according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that a booster (54) for igniting the propelling charge (46, 48) is arranged in the propelling charge cartridge (20), and the igniting line (56) opens into the booster (54).
 5. Cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in that the booster (54) contains a booster charge (58) in a cylindrical booster case (60) which has radial openings (70) in the region of the booster charge (58).
 6. Cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the booster (54) is firmly connected to the projectile-side end of the propelling charge cartridge (20).
 7. Cartridge according to one of claims 1-6, characterised in that the launching tube (16) is free from radial openings.
 8. Cartridge according to one of claims 1-7, characterised in that the igniting line (56) is led out of the rear opening, facing away from the projectile (18), of the launching tube (16). 